Indians continue winning ways

Cheyenne Mountain’s boys’ tennis team has won a regional title each year for at least 17 years, and the Indians have no intention of breaking their streak this season.

Despite having no seniors and only three returning players, the host Indians won quarterfinal and semifinal matches at every classification in 4A Region 6 on Thursday at their home courts.

“I know we have won regionals since 1992, but I think before that also,” coach Dave Adams said.

“Tomorrow is an important day because we need to win those matches for seeding purposes. These regional matches are really the beginning of the state tournament because it could be the difference between playing a No. 1 seed or someone different next week.”

Finals and third-place matches will take place today, with the top two players from each category advancing to next week’s state tournament in Pueblo.

Temperatures in the 30s and a mix of snow and rain made competition a little more interesting Thursday.

“The cold makes the ball bounce differently, and just not very much at all,” Colorado Springs School’s Andrew Smith said. “You’ll be standing at the baseline waiting for the ball and it just doesn’t come.”

Smith, along with partner Bin Yoon, lost to Cheyenne Mountain’s Andrew Venner and Cole Benson in the No. 2 doubles semifinals but will have a shot to go to state today if they win both playback matches.

Colorado Springs School has a chance to advance to state at each level. No. 1 singles player Seth Grotelueschen will face Cheyenne Mountain’s Jon Moore for the title, while CSS’ Josh Smith will play the Indians’ Steven Moore at No. 2 singles.

“Cheyenne Mountain is the favorite each year, so the rest of us are just out here fighting for second,” Kodiaks coach Rick Risk said. “We’re really pleased with our top singles players, especially Seth, because he had just lost to the same Fountain Valley player that he beat today.”

Grotelueschen defeated Palmer Ridge’s Kyle Corkey in the quarterfinals in three sets before beating Fountain Valley’s Thomas Sickert 6-3, 7-5 in the semifinals.